Advice for college freshman

Compiled by Cassie Burton cburton@mrt.com

Published 5:00 am, Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Widespread campuses, an onset of extracurricular activities and thesis-driven argumentative essays are just some of the hurdles that first-time freshmen encounter the first month of school. Higher education has been pressed as an illustrious step for a future career in most fields, whether it’s a four-year degree or a certificate. However, the “honeymoon” phase eventually wears off and students, often fresh out of high school, are left wondering how they can keep on keepin’ on.

To give a boost to those starting their higher education, upperclassmen and alumni share advice to their successors.

University of Texas of the Permian Basin

-- Lisa Donham, education student

Christ is the main thing for me. Obey his commands. If I was reaching out to the faith-based community, I would say finding a church was a huge thing for me. I didn’t feel like I fit in completely until I found a church I really like.

As for general advice, I would say… listen before you speak. I think as college kids we want to be heard, and that’s great, but we also have to learn to listen. That’s one of the good major things that I learned -- not just to want to be heard, but to be willing to listen. Truly care about people. If you have an on-campus job, make relationships with people on campus.

Truly get to know people you work with. Get to know your professors as people and not just as a face. See their souls and not just their face. I think that’s very important because when you build relationships with people and you show them that you care, then when you have issue with a paper or a problem in your personal life, they’re going to help you because you see them as a person.

-- Richie Pena

Advice I would give to incoming freshmen would have to be, get involved. By getting involved in school activities it helps you to branch out by meeting new people, possible friendships, figuring out interests and discover ones self. -- Rachel Harris I am pursuing two bachelor’s degree -- one in mechanical engineering and the other in mathematics. I am a senior in both; this is my fifth year in college. My best advice to an incoming freshman is this: Whatever major you pursue, do so enthusiastically. Jump into each semester with both fists swinging; you’ll need that momentum to carry yourself forward to graduation. Don’t shy away from hard subjects. This is the time to expand and explore. It’s either learn it now while everyone else is learning, or be the only one who doesn’t know when you hit the job market.

Now is the time to get ahead; don’t wait to make mistakes. Now, it’s just a homework grade, but then it will mean money, time, and people. Find the mistakes in your understanding -- now.

-- Isriona Vasquez

My advice to incoming freshmen would be take your GPA serious from the first day you start. Don’t think it’ll be fine to slack off in any class because getting closer to graduation you’ll be wishing you did better in that one class because it would have helped you. Trying to bring your GPA up once it’s down is hard.

Second, don’t miss class unless you’re deathly ill. Doesn’t matter how much you think you don’t have to be there; you do. Third, don’t put off your science classes; plan them out well because then you’ll end up having to take three upper-level sciences together your last semester. ...

And lastly, enjoy every minute of it -- even the late-night coffee-filled study groups and days you walk around looking like you live on the streets because you’ve only slept for a few hours, if even that. Before you know it, you’ll be in your last semester and it’ll have flown by.

-- Steven Ruiz

My advice to incoming/first-time students: Set a graduation deadline and try your hardest to stick to it. ... .College is a fun time but don’t forget why you are there. Focus is the key to completing your degree. Make sure you take the time to study.

If you find yourself falling behind in a class don’t be afraid to ask for help. Professors are more than willing to help you learn the material. The faster you ask for help the faster you can get back on course. ... Take advantage of the many resources that are on your campus. Tutors, study groups, counselors and faculty members are there to help you succeed.

Midland College

-- Damian Morales

Come in, don’t be shy, don’t be afraid to talk to somebody. If you don’t know anybody try to make some friends. They will help you out in the end. You’re all going to help each other with group work -- not like cheating -- but it’s helpful to always have somebody there beside you who’s knowing what you're going through. They’re trying to do the same thing. They struggle with just coming to class, trying to get there on time and doing all of the work. So try to make as many friends as you can. That’s it: Try to make some friends.

-- Anna Lee

Definitely go to class, but also know how to manage class and friends. Know how to have fun because this is the time to have fun, but still, worry about your grades and think about other things later. School comes first and everything else comes later.

-- Hadee MacGregor

The best thing to do is go to class. If you don’t go to class, you will never pass. If you know what you want to do and major in, half it. Do half of your (pre-requisites), do half of your major. It’s the best way to do it. You get done quicker and enjoy it.

Find friends. Friends you went to school with, friends in the classroom so if you miss something, get somebody to text and say “Hey, did you get this because I forgot it?” And basically, just study. It’s not like high school at all. You don’t get to not study. You can’t say, “Oh, my teacher likes me so she’ll pass me.” ... They just barely know your name if that or have seen you. If you talk to them and you go them and you explain to them, ask them for help, they’re more than likely to help you, but you have to ask for help.

-- Annie Tillman, Illinois Wesleyan graduate:

Get out of your bubble. Try new things. It’s OK to go home. It’s OK to be overwhelmed. The beautiful thing about it is, everyone else is doing the same thing. No one knows what they’re doing and the fun is figuring out together.